While I was out delivering a major metropolitan daily to parts of the
Lynnhurst neighborhood this morning, I heard a story that included a
discussion of mortgage rates – I think. The reporter used something he
called the Anderson Report, which was a survey of mortgage rates. I
often hear reports on gas prices quoting the Lundberg Report that
surveys gas prices nationwide.

I decided right there, in front of 4936 & 4940 Newton to start the
Riese Report, a survey of public art across the nation. I'm thinking of
starting with questioning builders and developers about their
expenditures on art for their projects. I'm also considering using
public art resources like Forecast here in the Twin Cities to gather
information.

What is public art?

I make and circulate porcelain money – coins with values incised on
each side. A coin may have "work" on one side "play" on the other. (
You can view these coins and my functional pottery at:
http://www.mnartists.org/Erik_Riese) I think of this attempt to
redirect our value system as public art. Over 28,000 pieces of coin are
now in circulation. My coins have reached every corner of the earth,
below the ocean surface and into low earth orbit. I don't solicit
funding for my project although my customers have paid me for coin. The
coins have become a new value that stimulate trades, inspire
conversation and debate & even changed the course of peoples' lives.

Are they public art?

Does public art have to be for everyone. Can a piece in a public place
become a private monument? What about architecture? Is good design
public art?

When the City Council's Ways & Means Committee votes to remove $200,000
from one line "Public Art" and put it into another "Public Works" does
this reduce the arts in Minneapolis? Does the city have a role to play
in developing and supporting art or arts organizations?

While I've been a supporter of the Mayor, I haven't been so impressed
with the his arts work. It seems to me to be a cronies' game. If you
are "in" you are asked to participate, if you are "out" your
involvement is not only unwanted, it's actively thwarted.

What does the Mayor's budget do for arts in the city? Why should we
contact our CouncilMembers on this issue?

-Erik
On Dec 6, 2005, at 8:21 AM, Connie Beckers wrote:

Talking Points: Support the Mayor’s proposed 2% for public art, as
this is
consistent with the strategies outlined in the approved cultural plan.
The
proposed strategy of moving half of the public art budget into Public
Works,
would be contrary to the Cultural Plan and current public art policy
and
would be an inefficient way to develop and maintain public art
projects.

In cooperation,
Erik Riese
Seward US@:
A great place to live, work, learn, create and play.
Santa Erik available for holiday parties, events and happenings.
(612) 724-3217
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